Combined type-writing and computing machine.



W. L. GUMPRECHT. COMBINED TYPE WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. I913.

Patented Sept Z'Zivtnesses m: mums nsrsns co Pnumuma. wAsnmcwu. n 1:.

W. L. GUMPRECHT.

COMBINED TYPE WRlTING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 12.1913- Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Invent 97% d wV/f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. GUMPRECHT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, .ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, T0 UNDERWOOD COMPUTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED TYPE-WRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

Application filed July 12, 1913.

vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Combined Type-Writing andComputing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to subtraction-setting mechanism of computingmachines, in,

which the keys first set up index-pins, which are subsequently utilizedto control the rotation of the associated number wheels.

In ombined typewriting and computing machines of the Underwood-Hansontype (shown in British Patent No. 10,902 of 1912) to which myimprovements are shown applied, a special key or bar is used for settingthe machine to perform subtraction.

There is liability that the operator may sometimes prematurely set saidkey; that is, after operating the numeral keys to set up the index-pins,the operator may sometimes by mistake set said subtraction key, so that,upon the ensuing movement of the general operator, the machine willcompute a number diiferent from that which has just been set up.

The present invention aims to overcome this dilliculty, and to that endthere isprovided a normally idle latch which, after the numeral keyshave been manipulated to set up the usual index pins, falls intoposition to prevent prematureoperation of the subtraction key.Therefore, when the general operator is operated, it necessarily causesthe machine to add. Incidentally it unlatches the subtraction key, sothat the operator may then set said key if desired.

The latching of the subtraction key against setting is eifected in thisinstance by means of the carriage of the typewriter, which, at theletterfeeding movement thereof that takes place immediately after theprinting of the last type in a number, drops said latch into a notchprovided upon the subtraction key or bar. This latch can only bereleased by the operation of the general operator, so that the operativeis prevented from setting said subtraction key until after the numberwhich has just been set upon the index-pins is carried into the numberwheels.

Preferably said latch is connected to a Specification of Letterslatent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Serial 778,674.

shutter or screen, which is illustrated in the patent to Hart, No.1,237,513, granted August 21, 1917, as covering the number wheelsautomatically as soon as the index pins are set up; whereby the latchdrops into working position at the same time that the shutter covers upthe numbers.

In the kind of machine illustrated herein, the subtraction key isdetained in working position by a special detent; and provision is madewhereby said latch, at the time that the subtraction key is so held bysaid special detent, may neverthelessdrop idly, so as to permit thedesired closing movement of the shutter.

Other features and advantages will here-' inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a sectional side view of an Underwood-Hanson combinedtypewriting and computing machine, showing only the principal partsnecessary to the understanding of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a skeleton perspective view of the principal parts relating tomy invention.

Fig. 3 is a section showing some of the connections operated by thesubtraction bar.

Fig. 4 shows the connections for releasing the subtraction connectionsfrom the numeral keys.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the denomination jacks, showing also thesupernumerary ack 39.

In the Underwood-Hanson combined typewriting and computing machine,numeral keys 1 and alphabet keys 2 are mounted on key levers 3 whichswing bell cranks at so that typcbars 5 carry type 6 thereon, upwardlyand rearwardly to write 011 the work-sheet placed 011 the platen 7.

Said platen forms part of a carriage 8 which is fed along by means (notshown herein) in any usual or desired manner at every operation of akey. As the carriage 8 travels along, a tappet 9 mounted on a rack 10forming part of said carriage, is carried along under a series of jacks11 pivoted at 12 intermediate their ends, so that the rear ends 13 ofsaid jacks depress se riatim a series of denomination selecting rods 14.

The computing mechanism includes a series of rack bars 15, each of whichis connected so as to turn its computing wheel 16, there being one wheelfor each of said rack bars. As the typewriter carriage travels along,the selecting rods 14, as they are de-" p the pin-setting bars 18, anynumeral key depressed at this time will swing downwardly its pin-settingbar 18 so as to set, namely, depress the corresponding pin in the rackbar 15'which has been momentarily raised. I Thus said bars and pins forma set of indexing devices for determining how far each.

computing wheel shall turn.

The connections for accomplishing this include a pendant 19, i (therebeing one pendant for each numeral key), and as any pendant descendswith itsnumeral key, it strikes a rock arm forming an extension of arock shaft 20, whereby said rock shaft swings, thus carrying to one sidea link 21, said link moved by. an addition wrist 56 which is engaged byan arm 22 of said shaft. The links 21 are joined by bell cranks (notshown herein) to the pin-setting bars 18,'and therefore, through theconnections just described, whenever a numeral key is depressed, itspin-setting bar 18 will swing downwardly and set a'corresponding pin onany rack bar 15 which is momentarily raised.

When a number has been completely set up by thus depressing a series ofpins,.said

number may be carried into the adding orcomputing wheels 16 by means ofa general operator, said general operator comprismg a cross-bar 23which, when moved forward,

7 strikes any depressed pin 17 and carries the rack bar 15 on which itis mounted forward, so as to turn its computing wheel 16 by means of arack 24 forming part of said rack bar which meshes with a pinion 25connected to its computing wheel.

' numeral keys or the reading of the computing wheels when a number hasbeen completely set up or registered on the pins 17. To thus obstructthe numeral keys 1, there is provided a. bar 31 fast on pivoted arms'32, which bar normally tends to overlie said keys. Said bar normallytends to spring to its overlying or effective position, being drawn by aspring 33 connected to one arm of a bell crank 34 having a p1n-andslotconnection at 35 with a rock arm .36 extending from the pivoted shaft 37on' which the barcarrying arms 32 are mounted.-

Said bar may be held in its ineffective position to therear of thenumeral keys 1, as'seen in Fig. 2, by means of a latch 38. Said latch 38is adapted to be released whenever the number which is being written hasbeen completely set up in the rack bars 15. For this purpose, there isprovided a supplementary jack 39 which is adapted to be raised by thetappet 9 immediately after the typewriter has written a digit. in theunits column. Said supplementary ack, as most clearly. seen in Fig. 2,bears against a rod 40 which at its lower end is pivoted to a rock arm41 fast on a shaft 42, said shaft being adapted to draw back toineffective position the latch 38 whenever it is rocked; the connectionincluding a rock arm 43 fast on said shaft to which arm said latch ispivoted at its rear end. The latch 38 may be guided in its back andforth movement by a pin 44 extending through a slot 45 in said latch.Thus, whenever a digit is written in the units column, the latch 38 isreleased and p the bar 31 springs forward over the numeral keys landinterferes with their operation.

The bar 31 may be connected to a shutter 46 which will obstruct thereading of the digits on the computing wheels whenever the bar 31interferes with the numeral keys. This shutter, like the bar 31, isnormally held in ineffective position by means of said latch 38. Saidshutter is connected so that whenever said bar is in its effectiveposition, the shutter is also effective. For this purpose, the shaft 37,on which the arms 33 are carried, carries a rock arm 47 to which ispivoted a link 48 pivoted at its forward end to the shutter 46. -Theconnection is such that whenever the bar 31 springs forward to obstructthe keys 1, the link 48 lifts the shutter 46 upwardly around the shaft49 of the computing wheels on which the shutter is pivoted, so that theshutter obscures the wheels. iVhenever the general operator is '01)-erated, it moves the bar 31 and the shutter 46 to an ineffectiveposition. For this purpose, one of the side bars 27 forming part of thegeneral operator is provided with a notch 50 in which normally rests oneend 51. of a bell crank arm pivoted in the frame. hen the generaloperator is operated said end 51 rides out of the notch 50 and causesanother arm 52 of said bell crank to strike a rearwardly extending arm53 forming part of the bell crank 34 and lifts the bell crank arm 53 sothat the forward arm of said bell crank, by means'of its pin-and-slotconnection at 35, rocks the bar 31 and the shutter 46 to theirineffective positions. Tohold them there, the latch 38 is forced forwardto effective position by means of a spring 5 1 coiled around the shaft42 which operates said latch.

When it is desired to subtract, a subtraction bar 55 may be pushedrearwardly so as to carry forwardly the shafts 20 on which the rock arms22 are mounted. This carries the addition arms 22 and other parts fromthe position seen in Fig. 1 where said arms 22 engage addition wrists 56on the links 21, into the position seen in Fig. 3 Where subtraction rockarms 57, each fast on its shaft 20, engage subtraction wrists 58 on thelinks 21. The relation of the arms 22 and 57 is such that every link 21formerly engaged by an addition rock arm 22 is engaged by a subtractionrock arm 57 operated by the numeral key which is complementary to thenumeral key operating its addition rock arm 22; for example, if the link21 was formerly operated by the numeral key 6, it will now be operatedby the numeral key 3, and similarly the numeral key 6 will now beconnected by the subtraction rock arm 57 to the link formerly operatedby the numeral key 3, as seen in Fig. 3.

The connections between the subtraction bar 55 and the rock shafts 20include a universal shifter bar 59 which is suitably pivoted in theframe of the machine and extends across the rock shafts 2O entering thenotches 60 therein; said universal shifter bar 59 is operated from thesubtraction bar 55 by means of a lever 61 which is engaged by a pin 62fast on the subtraction bar, said lever bearing against the lower end ofthe shifter bar 59 and being pivoted in the frame of the machineintermediate its ends.

The rock shafts 20 carrying the addition rock arms 22 and thesubtraction rock arms 57 are locked in subtraction position by means ofa latch 67 (see Fig. l) having shoulders which catch the bar 59 whichmoves said rock arms; said latch 67 tends to spring to effectiveposition being constantly under the tension of a spring 68, which drawson the bell crank arm 71 of said latch.

Other devices operated by the subtraction bar 55 provide for making thenecessary corrections in the adding wheels so that the adding of thecomplements of numbers will show the difference between such numbers andthe numbers previously set up in the computing wheels. Said devices maybe identical with those shown in the co-pending case of Hans HansonSerial No. 733,940 filed November 29, 1912, which include a lever 59 foreach pin bar, which lever is adapted to set the 9 pin 17 on every pinbar 15.

Vhenever the subtraction bar 55 is pushed rearwardly to subtractionposition it is latched in said position by means of a dog which springsupwardly into a notch 81 the rear end of the subtraction bar To preventthe subtraction bar from be- 'ing set when any numbers are set up on thepins 17, but not yet carried into the adding wheels 16, the shutter aswhen it hides the face of the adding wheels 16 may lock said subtractionbar against operation by holding a lug 63 fast on an extension er ofsaid shutter in the path of the lug 65 on said subtraction bar Said lug65 on the sub traction bar preferably forms one ed e of a notch cut inthe subtraction bar 55.

Since the movement of the general operator swings the key interferingbar 31 and the shutter 46 to their ineffective position,

'the general operator will likewise through carry-over driveshaft 70,which shaft, as is,

usual in the Underwood-Hanson machine, always rotates in one direction.This cam, by connections hereinafter described, will release thesubtraction latch 67, said latch for this purpose having a bell crankarm 71 which is engaged by a hook 72 extending from the upper end of alever 7 3, said lever being swung at the end of the operation of thegeneral operator by the cam 69 through a link 7-1 which extends from thelower end of said lever to a lever 75 having a follower 76 which rideson the releasing cam 69. \Vhen the latch 67 is thus drawn down toineffective position, springs 77, hearing against a part of the framenot shown, re turn the rock shafts 20 to their rearward position wherethe rock arms 22 thereon engage the adding wrists 56. v

The subtraction bar 55 is likewise released by the general operator atthe end of its stroke. For this purpose the ordinary pinrestoring plate86 of the Underwood-Hanson machine, as disclosed in said Hanson patent,is provided with the ordinary bell crank lever 82 for restoring the pinsat the end of the return movement of the general operator.

A wrist 88 on said bell crank lever engages a hook 84 forming anextension of the subtraction lever holding dog and lifts the forward endof said lever 'so that the rear end forming the dog 80 is carried clearof the subtraction bar 55. This permits a spring shown diagrammaticallyat 85 to return the subtraction bar 55 to its normal ineffectiveposition, in which the machine will add.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope'of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

' 1. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,actuating means therefor, and controlling mechanism for determiningwhether said actuating means shall perform an addition operation or asubtraction operation in said computing mechanism, of a'subtractionmechanism settable to alter the action of said controlling mechanism onsaid actuating means, so that said actuating means performs asubtraction operation, and means for preventing setting of saidsubtraction mechanism when said controlling mechanism has beencompletely set for an addition operation, and. until said operation iscompleted.

2. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,settable indexing devices, numeral keys and a general operator forcarrying into the computing mechanism numbers represented by said keys,of controlling mechanism for determining whether said keys shall performan addition operation or a subtraction operation in said computingmechanism, a subtraction mechanism settable to alter the action of saidcontrolling mechanism so that said keys may control a subtractionoperation, means for preventing setting of said subtraction mechanism,means whereby the actuation of a numeral key to set an indexing devicefor addition in units order may make said preventing means effective andconnections whereby the actuation of said general operator makes saidpreventing means ineffective.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a computing mechanism,numeral keys for controlling said computing mechanism, and a generaloperator carrying the numbers set up on said keys into the computingmechanism, of indexing devices settableby said keys for determiningwhether said general operator shall perform an addition operation or asubtraction operation in said computing mechanism, a subtractionmechanism settable to alter the action of said keys on said indexingdevices, so that said general operator may perform a subtractionoperation, and means for preventing setting of said subtractionmechanism when said indexing devices have been set by said keys forperforming an addi tion operation, said general operator releas-.

ing said subtraction mechanism on completion of the running in of thenumber.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with a computing mechanism,numeral keys, and a general operator for running into thecomputingmechanism numbers set by said keys, of mechanism under the consaid keyson said controlling mechanism, so

that said general operator performs a subtraction operation, means forpreventing further actuation of said keys and of'said subtractionmechanism when said keys have 7 been completely operated for an additionoperation, and connections whereby both said preventing means becomesimultaneously ef' fective.

5. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination withcomputing wheels and a shutter for obstructing the reading of them, of asubtraction piece settable to cause the machine'to subtract, a lug onsaid subtraction piece, and alug connected to said shutter to preventsaid subtraction piece from being set when the shutter interferes withthe reading of said computing wheels.

6. In a combined typewriting and com puting machine, the combinationwith nu 9 meral keys, computing mechanism and a traveling carriagecontrolled thereby, of a tappet on said traveling carriage, indexingdevices on which numbers are temporarily set up under control of saidkeys and said tappet, subtraction mechanism settable to effect themanner in which said keys and said tappet control said indexing devices,and means moved by said tappet for render ing said subtraction mechanismineffective at the conclusion of thesetting up operation by said keysand tappet.

7. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination withnumeral keys, indexing devices, computing mechanism, and a travelingcarriage controlled by said numeral keys, of a tappet on 1 saidcarriage, acting jointly with said numeral keys to temporarily set upnumbers on said indexing devices, a general operator for subsequentlycarrying into the computing mechanism the numbers so set up, asubtraction mechanism settable to alter the efiect of said tappet andkeys on said indexing devices, means moved by said tappet at theconclusion of the setting up of a number on said indexing devices forlocking said (subtraction mechanism, and means oper-' -ated by saldgeneral operator for controlling the return to normal position of saidsubtraction mechanism.

8. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, computingwheels, and a subtraction bar, of means for obstructing the view of saidcomputing wheels, in-.

terfering with the operation of said numeral keys, andinterfering withthe operation of said subtraction bar, and connections so that all saidinterfering and obstructing means move together. r

9. In a computing machine, the combination with computing wheels alwaysturning in one direction, of computation members always driving them inone direction, numeral keys, indexing devices set thereby fordetermining how far said members shall drive said wheels, a subtractionbar, means controlled thereby for causing said indexing devices tocontrol said members to turn said wheels so that the result shown onthem is subtraction, means brought into action upon the completion of anindex-setting operation for locking said subtraction bar againstoperation, a general operator for turning said wheels by said members,and means for unlocking said subtraction bar by operation of saidgeneral operator.

10. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, ofcomputation members, indexing devices controlling the movement of saidcomputation members, said indexing devices settable by said numeralkeys, a subtraction bar settable for varying the action of said keys onsaid indexing devices, means for adding the set up number, a normallyineffective lock for preventing the operation of said subtraction bar,means for making said lock effective after said indexing devices havebeen completely set up to represent a number, and means for making saidlock ineffective by the adding operation.

11. In a computing machine adapted to add or subtract in a given zone,but normally adding, the combination with numeral printing keys, andobstructing means therefor automatically eifective at the end of a zone,of means adapted to cause the machine to subtract at will the numberswritten by said numeral keys, computing wheels, a general operator forcarrying the numbers written by said numeral keys into said computingwheels, a lock for preventing the operation of said subtraction meanswhen a number has been completely written by said keys but not yetcarried by said general operator into said computing wheels, said lockbeing operated concomitantly with said key-obstructing means, andconnections whereby said general operator makes said lock andobstructing means ineifective.

12. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,indexing devices, numeral keys for setting up numbers in said indexingdevices, and a general operator for running into the computing mechanismthe numbers set up, of a subtraction bar for altering the connectionsbetween said numeral keys and said indexing devices, so that saidnumeral keys may effect a subtraction set up, means for obstructing theoperation of said numeral keys and locking said subtraction-setting barin normal position at the completion of the setting up operation, andmeans controlled from said general operator to release said subtractionbar and for making said obstructing'mcans ineffective.

13. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combinationwith computing mechanism, numeral keys, a travelcarriage, indexingdevices controlled by said keys and carriage, for setting up numbers,and a general operator for runnin into the computing mechanism thenumbers indexed, of a subtraction mechanism settable to determinewhether the indexing devices shall be controlled to cause an addition orsubtraction operation of the computing mechanism, according to theposition of the subtraction mechanism, and means under the control ofsaid carriage for preventing the operation of said subtraction mechanismafter the completion of the indexing operation for addition and prior toan operation of the general operator, said general operator releasingsaid subtraction mechanism.

14. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,and in dexing devices for setting up the numbers to be computed, of ashield or shutter for covering said computing mechanism at thecompletion of the indexing operation, a subtraction-setting mechanism,and means brought into action on movement of said shutter to coveringposition for rendering said subtraction-setting mechanism ineffective.

15. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism,and indexing devices for setting up numbers to be computed, of a shieldor shutter for covering said computing mechanism at the completion ofthe indexing operation, a subtraction-setting mechanism including a key,and means brought into operation on movement of said shutter to coveringposition for locking said key against operation.

16. In a computing machine, the combination with a subtraction bar and alug formed by a notch therein, of numeral keys, means for interferingwith the operation of said numeral keys, a device connected to saidinterfering means to be moved in front of said lug and make saidsubtraction bar inoperable, and a second notch on said bar to permitsaid lock to be ineffective at times though said interfering means isefiective.

17. In a computing machine, the combination with numeral keys, of meanswhereby said numeral keys may compute in a computing zone, means forinterfering with the operation of said numeral keys adapted to becomeeffective at the end of a computing zone, a subtraction piece, and meansfor preventing the setting ofsaid subtraction piece when the operationof said numeral keys is interfered with.

18. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combinationwith typewriter numeral keys, of means whereby said numeral keys maycompute in a computing zone, means for interfering withthe operation ofsaid numeral keys adapted to become effective at the end of a computingzone, a subtraction piece, means for preventing the setting of saidsubtraction piece when the operation of said numeral keys is interferedwith, a general operator for completing a computation and adapted to beoperated at the end of a computing zone, and means for simultaneouslymaking said preventive and Copies of this patent may be obtained forsaid interferingand obstructing means move together, devices on whichnumbers are temporarily set up bysaid keys, a general op- 'erator forcarrying the set-up numbers into puting machine, the combination withcom- Jutin mechanism indexin devices numeral keys for setting saidindexing devices,

and a general operator for running into the computing mechanism thenumbers indexed, of means for obstructing the numeral keys after anumber has been completely set up and before movement of said generaloperator, a subtraction-setting mechanism, and means brought intooperation through the medium of said obstructing means for preventingsetting of said subtraction-setting mechanism. v p

'WILLIAM L. GUMPRECHT.

Witnesses:

W. MLBYORKMAN, LYMAN D. BROUGHTON.

[1,. s] r i [n s] five cents each, by addressing the. Commissioner ofBatents, Washington, D. G.

